Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method for cell handover in a communication system supporting carrier aggregation, comprising: judging, by a source base station in the communication system, whether component carriers corresponding to one or more cells to be accessed which belong to a destination base station selected for a terminal device are in a same frequency band, wherein the terminal device is currently served by the source base station and is to be handed over, and if yes, packaging configuration information of all the one or more cells to be accessed in a handover command for initiating cell handover, otherwise, packaging configuration information of one or more of the one or more cells to be accessed in the handover command; and transmitting the handover command to the destination base station.
A method for handing off a mobile device between base stations in a cellular network using carrier aggregation involves the source base station determining if the cells to be accessed in the target base station are on the same frequency band. If the target cells are on the same frequency band, the source base station packages the configuration information for all target cells into a single handover command and sends it to the destination base station. Otherwise, it packages configuration information for only a subset of the target cells in the handover command and sends the command.
2. The method for cell handover in a communication system of claim 1 , further comprising: selecting one cell from the one or more cells to be accessed, as a primary cell to be accessed, and wherein packaging the configuration information of one or more of the one or more cells to be accessed in the handover command comprises: packaging configuration information of the primary cell to be accessed in the handover command.
The cell handover method, as described above, includes selecting one of the target cells as the primary target cell. When the target cells are *not* on the same frequency band and configuration information is packaged for only a subset of target cells, the configuration information for this primary target cell is included in the handover command sent to the destination base station. This ensures at least one cell is configured during handover.
3. The method for cell handover in a communication system of claim 2 , wherein selecting one cell from the one or more cells to be accessed as the primary cell to be accessed comprises: judging whether there is a cell, among the one or more cells to be accessed, component carriers of which are in a same frequency band with those corresponding to a currently serving cell of the terminal device; and if yes, selecting the cell as the primary cell to be accessed, otherwise, selecting one cell having best performance among the one or more cells to be accessed, as the primary cell to be accessed.
To select the primary target cell, as described above, the source base station first checks if any of the target cells use the same frequency band as the mobile device's current serving cell. If there's a match, that cell is selected as the primary cell. Otherwise, the cell with the best performance metrics (e.g., signal strength, quality) among all target cells is selected as the primary target cell. This prioritizes frequency continuity during the handover.
4. The method for cell handover in a communication system of claim 2 , wherein selecting one cell from the one or more cells to be accessed as the primary cell to be accessed comprises: selecting one cell having best performance among the one or more cells to be accessed, as the primary cell to be accessed.
To select the primary target cell, as described above, the base station selects the target cell with the best performance metrics (e.g., signal strength, quality) as the primary target cell. Performance metrics are used to ensure the best available cell is selected for initial connection after handover, regardless of frequency band.
5. The method for cell handover in a communication system of claim 1 , wherein if the terminal device is currently connected to a plurality of cells of the source base station, the terminal device keeps in communication with one of the plurality of cells of the source base station before being handed over to the destination base station.
In the cell handover method, when the mobile device is already connected to multiple cells within the source base station (carrier aggregation), the device maintains communication with at least one of those serving cells until the handover to the destination base station is complete. This ensures continuous connectivity during the handover process.
6. The method for cell handover in a communication system of claim 1 , further comprising: selecting, by the source base station based on a performance measurement report for one or more neighbor cells of the terminal device transmitted from the terminal device, a candidate base station from one or more candidate base stations corresponding to the one or more neighbor cells, as the destination base station; and selecting one or more cells from all cells belonging to the destination base station in the one or more neighbor cells, as the one or more cells to be assessed for the terminal device.
The cell handover method involves the source base station receiving performance reports from the mobile device about neighboring cells. Based on these reports, the source base station selects a destination base station from the neighboring base stations. It then selects one or more cells belonging to that destination base station from the reported neighbor cells. These selected cells are the "cells to be accessed" during the handover.
7. The method for cell handover in a communication system of claim 6 , wherein selecting a candidate base station from one or more candidate base stations as the destination base station comprising: selecting an algorithm suitable for carrier aggregation manners of the one or more candidate base stations to calculate priorities of the one or more candidate base stations, based on the performance measurement report and based on the carrier aggregation manners of the one or more candidate base stations; and selecting one candidate base station having a highest priority from the one or more candidate base stations, as the destination base station.
When selecting the destination base station from the candidate base stations, the source base station uses an algorithm tailored to the carrier aggregation capabilities of each candidate. This algorithm calculates a priority score for each candidate based on the mobile device's performance reports and the candidate's carrier aggregation configuration. The candidate base station with the highest priority score is selected as the destination.
8. The method for cell handover in a communication system of claim 7 , wherein calculating priorities of the one or more candidate base stations comprises: judging whether component carriers corresponding to all neighbor cells belonging to a same candidate base station in the one or more neighbor cells are in a same frequency band; and if yes, calculating priority of the candidate base station according to performances of all the neighbor cells belonging to the candidate base station, otherwise, calculating the priority of the candidate base station according to performance one having best performance of all the neighbor cells belonging to the candidate base station.
When calculating the priority score for each candidate base station, the source base station determines if all neighbor cells belonging to that candidate are on the same frequency band. If they are, the priority is based on the combined performance of all those neighbor cells. If they aren't, the priority is based on the best-performing single neighbor cell belonging to that candidate. This adapts the scoring to different carrier aggregation scenarios.
9. The method for cell handover in a communication system of claim 8 , wherein calculating the priority of the candidate base station according to the performances of all the neighbor cells belonging to the candidate base station comprises: calculating a sum of the performances or weighted performances of all the neighbor cells belonging to the candidate base station based on the performance measurement report, as the priority of the candidate base station.
When all neighbor cells of a candidate destination base station use the same frequency band, the candidate's priority is calculated by summing the performance metrics (reported by the mobile device) of all those cells. This can involve either a direct sum or a weighted sum, where some metrics are given more importance. The resulting sum is then used as the priority score for that candidate base station.
10. An apparatus for cell handover, configured in a base station of a communication system supporting carrier aggregation, and comprising: a command forming device configured to judge, whether component carriers corresponding to one or more cells to be accessed which belong to a destination base station selected for a terminal device are in a same frequency band, wherein the terminal device is currently served by the base station and is to be handed over, and if yes, package configuration information of all the one or more cells to be accessed in a handover command for initiating cell handover, otherwise, package configuration information of one or more of the one or more cells to be accessed in the handover command; and a transmitting device configured to transmit the handover command to the destination base station.
A base station apparatus for handling cell handover uses a command forming device. This device determines if the component carriers for one or more target cells in the destination base station (selected for handover) are on the same frequency band. If so, it packages the configuration of all target cells into a handover command. Otherwise, it packages only some of the target cell configurations into the handover command. A transmitting device then sends the handover command to the destination base station.
11. The apparatus for cell handover of claim 10 , further comprising: a primary cell selecting device configured to select one cell from the one or more cells to be accessed, as a primary cell to be accessed.
The base station apparatus, as described above, also includes a primary cell selecting device. This device selects one of the target cells to be the "primary" cell for the handover process. This selection is used to ensure at least one cell configuration is sent, as described in the above claim.
12. The apparatus for cell handover of claim 11 , wherein the primary cell selecting device is configured to: judge whether there is a cell, among the one or more cells to be accessed, component carriers of which are in a same frequency band with those corresponding to a currently serving cell of the terminal device; and if yes, select the cell as the primary cell to be accessed, otherwise, select one cell having best performance among the one or more cells to be accessed, as the primary cell to be accessed.
The primary cell selector first checks if any of the target cells use the same frequency band as the mobile device's current serving cell. If there's a match, that cell is chosen as the primary cell. If not, the target cell with the best performance metrics (e.g., signal strength, quality) is selected as the primary target cell.
13. The apparatus for cell handover of claim 11 , wherein the primary cell selecting device is configured to: select one cell having best performance among the one or more cells to be accessed, as the primary cell to be accessed.
The primary cell selecting device selects the one cell having the best performance among the target cells. The selection is based solely on performance metrics (e.g., signal strength, signal quality) without considering frequency band compatibility.
14. The apparatus for cell handover of claim 10 , wherein if the terminal device is currently connected to a plurality of cells of the base station, the terminal device keeps in communication with one of the plurality of cells of the base station before being handed over to the destination base station.
In the base station apparatus, if the mobile device is currently connected to multiple cells of the base station (using carrier aggregation), the mobile device remains connected to at least one of those cells until the handover to the destination base station is completed.
15. The apparatus for cell handover of claim 10 , further comprising: a receiving device configured to a performance measurement report for one or more neighbor cells of the terminal device transmitted from the terminal device; a destination base station selecting device configured to select, based on the performance measurement report, a candidate base station from one or more candidate base stations corresponding to the one or more neighbor cells, as the destination base station; and a cell selecting device configured to select one or more cells from all cells belonging to the destination base station in the one or more neighbor cells, as the one or more cells to be assessed for the terminal device.
The base station apparatus for handover includes a receiving device to receive performance reports for neighboring cells from the mobile device. A destination base station selector then chooses a candidate base station (corresponding to a neighboring cell) based on these performance reports. A cell selecting device picks one or more cells within the chosen destination base station as target cells for handover.
16. The apparatus for cell handover of claim 15 , further comprising: a priority determining device configured to select an algorithm suitable for carrier aggregation manners of the one or more candidate base stations to calculate priorities of the one or more candidate base stations, based on the performance measurement report and based on the carrier aggregation manners of the one or more candidate base stations; and wherein the destination base station is configured to select one candidate base station having a highest priority from the one or more candidate base stations, as the destination base station.
This apparatus also includes a priority determining device. This device chooses a priority algorithm based on the carrier aggregation capabilities of each candidate base station. Using this algorithm and the mobile device's performance reports, it calculates a priority score for each candidate. The destination base station selector then chooses the candidate with the highest priority score.
17. The apparatus for cell handover of claim 16 , wherein the priority determining device is configured to calculate priorities of the one or more candidate base stations by: judging whether component carriers corresponding to all neighbor cells belonging to a same candidate base station in the one or more neighbor cells are in a same frequency band; and if yes, calculating priority of the candidate base station according to performances of all the neighbor cells belonging to the candidate base station, otherwise, calculating the priority of the candidate base station according to performance one having best performance of all the neighbor cells belonging to the candidate base station.
When calculating priority scores, the priority determining device checks if all neighboring cells belonging to a candidate base station use the same frequency band. If they do, the candidate's priority is based on the combined performance of all those cells. If they don't, the priority is based on the performance of the best-performing single cell.
18. The apparatus for cell handover of claim 17 , wherein the priority determining device is configured to: calculate a sum of the performances or weighted performances of all the neighbor cells belonging to the candidate base station based on the performance measurement report, as the priority of the candidate base station.
If all neighbor cells of a candidate destination base station use the same frequency band, the priority determining device calculates the candidate's priority by summing the performance metrics (reported by the mobile device) of all those cells. This can be a direct sum or a weighted sum, where certain metrics are emphasized.
19. A base station in a communication system supporting carrier aggregation, comprising an apparatus for cell handover comprising: a command forming device configured to judge, whether component carriers corresponding to one or more cells to be accessed which belong to a destination base station selected for a terminal device are in a same frequency band, wherein the terminal device is currently served by the base station and is to be handed over, and if yes, package configuration information of all the one or more cells to be accessed in a handover command for initiating cell handover, otherwise, package configuration information of one or more of the one or more cells to be accessed in the handover command; and a transmitting device configured to transmit the handover command to the destination base station.
A base station in a carrier aggregation-supporting communication system includes a handover apparatus. The apparatus uses a command forming device to determine if the target cells in the destination base station have component carriers on the same frequency band. If so, configuration information for all target cells is packaged in a handover command. Otherwise, configuration information for only a subset of the target cells is packaged in the command. A transmitting device then sends the handover command.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which stores therein a computer program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute a method for cell handover in a communication system supporting carrier aggregation, the method comprising: judging, by a source base station in the communication system, whether component carriers corresponding to one or more cells to be accessed which belong to a destination base station selected for a terminal device are in a same frequency band, wherein the terminal device is currently served by the source base station and is to be handed over, and if yes, packaging configuration information of all the one or more cells to be accessed in a handover command for initiating cell handover, otherwise, packaging configuration information of one or more of the one or more cells to be accessed in the handover command; and transmitting the handover command to the destination base station.
A computer-readable storage medium stores a program that, when executed by a computer, performs a cell handover method. This method involves the source base station determining if the target cells in the destination base station have component carriers on the same frequency band. If the target cells all use the same frequency band, the method packages the configuration information for all of the cells into a handover command. Otherwise, the method packages the configuration information of one or more cells into the handover command. Finally, the method sends this handover command to the destination base station.
Unknown
September 9, 2014
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